Author Archives: Athene Donald

I Refuse to Think Like a Man

Posted on 12 August 2015 by Athene Donald

The recipe for success for women has been identified as Look like a girl, Act like a lady, Think like a man, Work like a boss. (or at least it was until the Bic South Africa advertising poster was pulled … Continue reading →

Posted in Bic South Africa, diversity, Equality, Megan Henley, metrics, Women in science | Comments Off on I Refuse to Think Like a Man

Those Annoying Little Habits

Posted on 8 August 2015 by Athene Donald

New lecturers are encouraged, possibly even compelled, to allow themselves to be videoed giving presentations/lectures so they can improve their teaching styles. Even before then, early career researchers may be offered that option and it is probably wise to accept. … Continue reading →

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The Importance of Evidence, the Need for #Just1Action4WIS

Posted on 28 July 2015 by Athene Donald

I’m sorry, this is yet another piece of writing in the wake of the Tim Hunt debacle. I find I am still very angry. We are, I hope, reaching the end of the saga yet little in the way of … Continue reading →

Posted in Connie St Louis, evidence, louise mensch, Mary Collins, Science Culture, Tim Hunt, Women in science | Comments Off on The Importance of Evidence, the Need for #Just1Action4WIS

Where are the Wild Places of our Souls?

Posted on 25 July 2015 by Athene Donald

I’m not sure if it’s unconsciously deliberate, but this year – as last – I took a fascinating book about our countryside to read during my week’s holiday away from Cambridge. This year I went to the south end of … Continue reading →

Posted in book review, George Monbiot, Lake District, natural history, rewilding, Robert MacFarlane | Comments Off on Where are the Wild Places of our Souls?

Why Such Tepid Governmental Aspirations?

Posted on 16 July 2015 by Athene Donald

The Government talks about ‘naming and shaming’ to close the pay gender pay gap, aspiring to close it within a generation. It is perhaps worth remembering when the Equal Pay Act came into force – 1970! 35 years on and … Continue reading →

Posted in Athena Swan, culture change, Equality, gender pay gap, Women in science | Comments Off on Why Such Tepid Governmental Aspirations?

Public Speaking Challenges

Posted on 12 July 2015 by Athene Donald

Technical glitches during talks are all too common, but never easy to cope with. Recently I had a simple talk to give, one which could safely be brought along on a memory stick to the event: I was giving a … Continue reading →

Posted in after-dinner, Communicating Science, disaster, iPad, pockets, Science Culture, speech | Comments Off on Public Speaking Challenges

A Basketful of Metrics?

Posted on 9 July 2015 by Athene Donald

For those who were involved with any aspect of REF2014, it had similarities to a slow speed nightmare. For those embroiled in preparing the submissions, not only was it extremely, ridiculously time-consuming, but it was also a heavy burden of … Continue reading →

Posted in HEFCE, James Wilsdon, REF, Research | Comments Off on A Basketful of Metrics?

How Do you Spend your Time?

Posted on 2 July 2015 by Athene Donald

Those of us academics working in UK universities will be familiar with the requirement to fill in forms every so often, accounting for how we spend our working week. Somehow we are supposed to account for every minute of that … Continue reading →

Posted in form-filling, references, Science Culture, TRAC analysis, Universities | Comments Off on How Do you Spend your Time?

What Next after Tim Hunt? (#just1action4WIS)

Posted on 15 June 2015 by Athene Donald

Last week the world erupted into a storm of outrage over remarks Sir Tim Hunt, Nobel Prize winner, made in Korea. Unacceptable, indefensible remarks. He has been made to resign from positions and committees for which he has worked so … Continue reading →

Posted in discrimination, Equality, personal responsibility, Royal Society, Science Culture, Women in science | Comments Off on What Next after Tim Hunt? (#just1action4WIS)

Faking It

Posted on 7 June 2015 by Athene Donald

I seem to have given a lot of talks recently in which the phrase ‘faking it’ sat at their heart. You will realise I am not referring to talks about protein aggregation, microscopy or other scientific subjects when the use … Continue reading →

Posted in career progression, independenc, Science Culture, self-confidence | Comments Off on Faking It